Hotel Guests Have No Idea They're Sleeping with a Corpse | Crime Alert 04.21.25

Layla Santanello, a young mother from Tennessee, was last seen on June 27, 2023, in a field next to the Americourt Hotel. Employees and guests reported that she appeared erratic and paranoid. Surveillance footage captured Layla walking around the hotel, reportedly knocking on doors and searching for someone. The events leading up to her disappearance began on June 24, three days earlier. Jennifer Santanello, Layla’s mother, received a message from Layla’s Facebook account. The message, sent by Layla’s boyfriend, asked if Layla was in jail or the hospital, saying he hadn’t seen her in more than 24 hours. Later that night, Layla messaged her mother from the same account, writing, “I’m fine mom,” and adding, “I been with a friend. I don’t have a phone to text or call. I’m using someone else’s.” About two weeks later, a series of strange Cash App requests were sent from Layla’s account to both her stepmother, Brittany Zeitler, and her mother. One request for $100 included the subject line “twlmg.” Several more requests followed in quick succession with the same subject line. Jennifer sent $1 to the account and asked if Layla was okay. As the transactions continued, she came to believe that “twlmg” meant “they won’t let me go.” Another message allegedly read, “We have Layla. She owes a drug debt, and if she doesn’t pay, you’ll find her chopped up into pieces.” Joining Nancy Grace today: Brittany Zeitler - Stepmom to Layla Santanello George Emmett - Dad to Layla Santanello Ben Powers - Criminal Defense Attorney; Facebook: Legal Powers PLLC Caryn Stark -  Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and consultant; Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice Rick Shaffer - Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Rebekah McNerney - Writer / Reporter at Kingston Times News; Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-mcnerney/INSTA:- https://www.instagram.com/rebekahmcnerney    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woman killed in hotel room while attending her daughter's wedding. "Ronald McDonald" forcibly removed from McDonald's restaurant.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an reported victim of billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is back in the news. Giuffre, charged with breaching a family violence restraining order in Austrialia, has been in the hospital after a car crash.  Giuffre said in an Instagram post  that a car in she was traveling, slowed to make a turn when it was hit by speeding school bus.   Giuffre, now 38,  previously said that Jeffrey Epstein paid her to have sex with the Prince Andrew, Duke of York when she was 17. Andrew has denied the allegations.   Joining Nancy Grace today: Anne Bremner - Trial lawyer, Legal Analyst, Author: “Justice in the Age of Judgment”, www.annebremner.com, Twitter: @annembremner, Instagram: @Anne_Bremner Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, www.drbethanymarshall.com, New Netflix show: 'Bling Empire' (Beverly Hills) Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Featured on "The Piketon Massacre: Return to Pike County" on iHeartRadio Charlie Lankston - Charlie Lankston, FeMail Editor, DailyMail.com, Twitter/Instagram:@charlielanks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teenager in Wisconsin is accused of killing his mother and his stepfather, then living with the decomposing bodies for weeks before he finally leaves the family home. Joseph Scott Morgan explains how difficult it would be to remain in a home with two decomposing bodies and he breaks down the types of guns and ammunition available to 17-year-old Nikita "Nikki" Casap. Dave Mack explains the family dynamic and how Nikki is also charged with identity theft for trying to pretend he is his now dead stepfather, as well as being charged with murder and more.   Transcript Highlights00:10.61 Introduction  01:01.83 Spending more time with the dead 05:41.51 Teen kills mom, stepdad, lives with bodies 09:52.98 Making mistakes in murder 15:20.17 Pulling back the blankets 20:51.75 Mother is found in hallway 25:10.98 Backing out of crime scene 29:50.56 Dividing up responsibilities on scene 34:00.22 VERY nice house 39:56.04 Doesn't have to be a body part 43:53.57 Removing each layer 47:45.42 Size of Round and type of stippling 53:28.71 Getting hit with a sledgehammer 55:09.61 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking crime news as it happens throughout the day! Follow "Crime Alert Hourly Update" now on your favorite podcast app: https://link.chtbl.com/Crime_Alert Here's some of our top stories this week: Public speculation that there is a serial killer in New England grows after 6 bodies found within a month.  An active shooter situation in Florida.  A teen boy stabbed his grandmother over a computer.    Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke on a Atlanta soundstage filming a new Hulu limited series, "Murdaugh Murders." The movie is based on the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh at their family kennel outside their home in South Carolina. Arquette will play mom Maggie Murdaugh,  Clarke will portray Alex Murdaugh, the now convicted, disbarred attorney.  Physical evidence tied Alex Murdaugh to the murder of his wife and son, leading to his conviction.  Now, Murdaugh is making a new bid for freedom.  Joining Nancy Grace Today: Troy Slaten - Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney, Slaten Lawyers, APC, Twitter @TroySlaten  Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy), www.panthermitigation.com, Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect" Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, Crime Online See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Easter Sunday is a holy day for Christians around the world. Its celebration brings hope to the nations through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we approach this holy day, Nancy Grace and her expert panel explores the facts of Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection and historical evidence in its reality. Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem for Passover and what is now called "Palm Sunday" is often called His "Triumphal Entry" as crowds line the streets, spreading their cloaks and waving palm branches. Shouts of "Hosanna" came from the crowd,  recognizing Him as King, but Jesus was also seen as a political threat by religious leaders and Roman authority fearing the populace would unite behind Jesus leading to unrest.   Jesus was arrested on charges of sedition, in the late evening after the Passover meal. He appeared before the Sanhedrin immediately, accused of blasphemy and claiming to be King of the Jews. He is judged guilty, condemned to die on a cross.   Sources other than the bible mention Jesus death by crucifixion and even document events that coincided with Jesus' death on the cross.  Historical accounts by Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and Roman Historian, Tacitus, both corroborate the existence of Jesus and His execution under Pontius Pilate.  Joining Nancy Grace today,  Lee Strobel - Former Legal Editor of the Chicago Tribune, Former Atheist and New York Times best-selling author of “Seeing the Supernatural” his newest release and also “The Evidence of Christ” [both among his 40+ books], Founding Director of the Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University; X and Facebook @leestrobel,Instagram @lee_strobel Fr. Cedric Pisegna - Father Cedric Ministries, airing on TBN on Sundays at 7 a.m. ET and EWTN on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. ET, Author of 25 books, including “Rise! Living the Risen Life” and “Death: The Final Surrender” Michael Licona - Professor of New Testament Studies at Houston Christian University, Author of "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach" and "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus" Guy Powell - Host of the podcast, “The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin; Board Member of STERA (The Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association), Board member of SEEC (The Shroud Educational Endeavous Corporation, President of ProRelevant; Author of “The Only Witness:  A history of the Shroud of Turin;"  YouTube: Guy.R.Powell.ShroudofTurin; Facebook: AHistoryOfTheShroudOfTurin; IG: @guy.r.powell; TikTok: @guy.r.powell Billy Hallowell - TV Host at CBN News (Christian Broadcasting Network), New documentary; "Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles;" Host of 2 podcasts: “Jesus and the Prophecies of Christmas” and “Quickstart;" Author of “Playing with Fire: A Modern Investigation into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts,” and “The Armageddon Code: One Journalist’s Quest for End-Times Answers” and more; @BillyHallowell on all social platforms See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Florida woman's toddler daughter tests positive for methamphetamine and opioids. Teens attack the easter bunny! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Just a month before the start of his trial, Sean "Diddy" Combs faces a third indictment. The new document adds two counts: sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The additional charges focus on “Victim-2,” who prosecutors say Combs recruited, harbored, and transported for coerced commercial sex acts between 2021 and 2024. If convicted, the charges could result in more jail time. Combs pleads not guilty. His legal team argues the allegations are not new and involve the same accusers—former long-term girlfriends who, they say, had consensual sexual relationships with Combs. He insists the encounters prosecutors call “Freak Offs” were mutual decisions between romantic partners to invite others into their relationship. Combs claims the tapes prosecutors plan to introduce as evidence will show all parties as willing participants. Prosecutors say “Victim-1,” also known as Cassie Ventura, plans to testify under her real name. They have asked Judge Arun Subramanian to allow witnesses 2, 3, and 4 to remain anonymous. They argue that revealing their names could lead to significant embarrassment, anxiety, social stigma, and media harassment. The witnesses are also concerned their testimony may affect personal relationships and future job prospects. What else is going on with Diddy? Tune into Crime Stories for updates. Joining Nancy Grace today: Eric Faddis - Partner at Varner Faddis Elite Legal, Former Felony Prosecutor and Current Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation Attorney; Instagram: @e_fad @varnerfaddis; TikTok: @varnerfaddis Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author of "Deal Breaker,” and featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive Chris McDonough - Director At the Cold Case Foundation, Former Homicide Detective, & Host of YouTube Channel, "The Interview Room" Dr. DeWayne Hendrix - Former Associate Warden at the MDC in Brooklyn, and former Senior Warden with the US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Founder and President of A New Daylight Foundation, Author: "Who Are You?  See it Say it and Seize it;" @anewdaylight (IG), @drdewaynehendrix (LinkedIn)  @anewdaylight (X-Twitter) Dr. Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco - Executive Director of Freedom Light, Human Trafficking Expert Witness, Author of “Hidden in Plain Sight: America’s Slaves of the New Millennium;" X: @MehlmanOrozco Kayla Brantley - Reporter-At-Large for DailyMail.com, Host of Daily Mail’s podcast, 'The Trial of Diddy;" X: @_KaylaBrantley, Instagram: @KaylaBrantley Sydney Sumner - CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 6-year-old girl found with her dog in the late afternoon says mommy and daddy left her. Traffic disrupted in San Diego for almost 24 hours by world-record attemptee? For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.